Concept information
Preferred term
theories of explanation
Definition
- The concept of explanation as a subject for philosophical study, distinct from that of knowledge or science, came into its own in the 20th century and was fundamentally shaped by the initial contributions of Carl Hempel and Paul Oppenheim, although it can be argued that many systematic thinkers, such as Aristotle, held views that deserve attention in connection with the subject. A theory of (scientific) explanation must answer these questions: What constitutes an explanation in science; whether different scientific subdisciplines proffer different products by way of explanation; whether therefore there are different species under the genus of explanation, and if so how they are related; and also how the genus of explanations that qualify as scientific differ from anything else that are referred to as explanations outside such contexts. [Source: Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Social Sciences; Explanation, Theories of]
Broader concept
Belongs to group
URI
https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/theories_of_explanation
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